Objective To analyze the effect of night-shift work, anxiety and their interaction on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among electronics manufacturing employees. Methods A total of 2 676 employees from 58 electronic manufacturing enterprises in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong Province were selected as the research subjects using the judgment sampling method. The Basic Situation Survey Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale and Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Disorders were used to assess night-shift work, anxiety and the prevalence of WMSDs in employees. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the effects of night-shift work, anxiety and their combined effects on the risk of WMSDs. Results The proportion of night-shift work was 30.3%, and the detection rates of anxiety and WMSDs were 26.8% and 41.3%, respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that night-shift work and anxiety were independent risk factors of WMSDs in the research subjects, after excluding the influence of confounding factors such as age, marital status, enterprise size and length of service [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.307 (1.092-1.564) and 3.282 (2.739-3.934), respectively, both P<0.01]. Compared with those without night-shift work or anxiety, the risk of WMSDs was higher in individuals with only night-shift work, only anxiety, or both night-shift work and anxiety [OR and 95%CI were 1.347 (1.091-1.663), 3.395 (2.727-4.227) and 4.117 (3.072-5.519), respectively, all P<0.01]. Conclusion Both night-shift work and anxiety can increase the risk of WMSDs among electronic manufacturing employees, and these two factors exhibit a synergistic effect in increasing the risk of WMSDs.